Mirwaiz barred from leading prayers at Jamia mosque for 11th week in a row

The Anjuman expressed resentment over the administration’s decision of not allowing Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq to perform an important obligation like the Friday prayer for the 11th week in a row. He was released from detention at home on September 22 after four years and has not been allowed to lead prayers at Jamia Masjid since October.

The Anjuman in a statement said Mirwaiz was not allowed to carry out his official religious responsibilities and the authorities did not provide any reason for such restrictions.

“Detaining Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir for the eleventh consecutive Friday is a serious concern for Anjuman Auqaf as well as the people whose emotions and sentiments are getting hurt by such arbitrary action of the administration,” the mosque management committee said.

Before closure of the mosque, the All parties Hurriyat Conference, headed by Mirwaiz had issued a statement expressing “anguish and grief” at the loss of lives in the latest escalation in the Palestinian-Israel conflict. Mirwaiz had stated that Palestinian’s have been “gravely wronged” and are suffering as a consequence of the conflict.

The Israel-Palestine conflict has featured in Mirwaiz’s Friday sermons in the past and sources in the administration claimed that authorities had apprehensions of protest concerning the issue after Friday prayers.